Major Minor

B.S.

Major in Game Design

Tell stories through games • Become a professional game designer • Impact the world

Learn hands-on

JBU game design majors have every opportunity to work with state-of-the-art equipment and engage with advanced technology while coming up with concepts for their own games.

Integrate faith & learning

At JBU, you'll be guided and learn how to design games that integrate your faith covertly or overtly, while learning to seek excellence and honor God.

Graduate into a growing industry

93% of people under the age of 18 play video games, and video game sales have grown consistently every year since 2015. A game design degree will prepare you for this growing industry.

Want to sharpen your coding skills and bring your games to life?

The game design major allows you to learn more about coding and sharpen your creative skills creating games that you want to play.

What to expect as a game design student at JBU

Learn the fundamentals

Game design majors will learn the basics of both computer science and graphic design, a great springboard into more advanced game design coursework.

Enjoy incredible facilities

The Balzer Technology Center has 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art labs and learning space.

Accelerate earning a master's

With JBU's 4+1 program, you can begin taking master's level classes as an undergraduate and finish both your bachelor's in game design and a master's degree in another program in five years. (You can even finish online once you get a full-time job.)

What can you do with a game design degree?

The game design major is well-equipped to prepare students for their career.

Game designer

You'll sharpen skills in multiple areas, allowing you to pursue a career in video or tabletop gaming.

Artistic director

You'll be able to create the artistic vision for games both board and digital, from story-crafting to 3D modeling.

UI design

Game designers understand the importance of a clean user interface. In the game design major, you'll be taught how to create an excellent interface experience for all users.

Key game design courses

Game Design 1

This course teaches game designers to learn to craft a story arc that compels the audience to keep playing. This course includes three units of projects: a short analysis paper about “railroading” or linear games, with a CYOA story sample; a “sandbox” or open-world table-top game like a 10-page D&D module; and a 4-6 week project that involves programming in any computer language, whether one the student is already proficient in, or one that fits their game model. This final “interactive fiction” (text adventure) foundation also introduces artificial intelligence techniques for creating lifelike behaviors in characters and computer opponents.

Introduction to Creative Writing

This course will provide a forum for beginning writers to acquaint themselves with and explore the conventions of poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. Students will read widely and write extensively, learning to appreciate the creative process and developing a vocabulary for the craft.

Object-Oriented Programming

The course introduces basic programming concepts, collections, and object-oriented analysis and design. Object-oriented concepts like abstraction, polymorphism, inheritance, and encapsulation are covered in detail with hands-on experience in programming and problem-solving with practical applications. Usage of Python packages and libraries for solving advanced real-time problems will also be covered. Students will have hands-on programming experience through lab sessions and team projects.

Computer Graphics

Introduction to current professional software programs used in the fields of graphic design, illustration, digital media, and photography. Taught on the Macintosh platform.

JBU does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, military status, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid, employment, educational programs, or activities.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.

)}}

Major in Game Design

Create the games you want to play.

Learn hands-on

Integrate faith & learning

Graduate into a growing industry

Want to sharpen your coding skills and bring your games to life?

What to expect as a game design student at JBU

Learn the fundamentals

Enjoy incredible facilities

Accelerate earning a master's

What can you do with a game design degree?

Game designer

Artistic director

UI design

Not sure which degree to choose?

Key game design courses

Game Design 1

Introduction to Creative Writing

Object-Oriented Programming

Computer Graphics

Meet our professors

Tim Gilmour

Jonathan Himes

Justus Selwyn

Shanon Vuglar

Explore our minors

Sign up for personalized information and deadline reminders

The future you starts here.

Undergraduate

Online Undergraduate

Graduate

Athletics

Parents

Alumni

Giving

About

Resources

Policy Information